From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com  Sat Dec  1 02:35:42 2007
From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com)
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2007 03:35:42 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN
Message-ID: <d53.1c3efdbe.348276de@wmconnect.com>

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Saturday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

GOD HAS SPOKEN

     Intoxication is a major problem in our world today.  Toxins
are poisons.  Toxic means poisonous.  Intoxicants are substa-
nces that poison or make people drunk.  One who is intoxicat-ed is poisoned 
or so drugged that his mental capacity is serio-
usly impaired.  Thus, a state of intoxication is a state of hav-
ing been poisoned or made drunk.  Alcohol poisoning is com-
monly referred to as intoxication.

     God's Word condemns drunkenness (Gal. 5:21; 1 Cor. 6:9,
10).  Who will declare himself the judge of the point of drink-
ing alcohol at which one is impaired?  DUI's are issued to peo-
ple based on blood alcohol content or a field of sobriety test.
The persons involved were actually driving automobiles, yet
they were charged with being "under the influence."  Damage,
destruction, and death are the results of drunkenness.  Physi-
cal intoxication comes through alcohol and drugs that have
the same stupefying effect, and it is the cause of much human suffering, not 
only to the drinker but also to others who become victims of the drinker's 
insane behavior.  What a
mocker and raging evil alcohol is!  (Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35).  The finished 
product of the brewer's art is a sad spectacle of
dissipation and degradation, sickness and self-humiliation for
those who thought that a drink of two would be harmless.

     Now consider some kinds of figurative and spiritual intoxi-
cation that destroy and deceive just as powerfully as bever-
age alcohol.  Some are intoxicated by human wisdom, reject-
ing all of the wisdom of God, not wanting even to retain God
in their knowledge and thus becoming fools (Rom. 1:21-32).  
Some are intoxicated with worldly pleasures, going after them
with complete abandon (2 Pet. 2:13; Eph. 4:17-19).  Some are
intoxicated with themselves, so obsessed with their own intel-
lect, prowess, and skill that their ego knows no bounds.  Some are 
intoxicated with sexual lust so strong that it destroys all reason and sound judgment.  
The sacrifice wife
or husband and children, honor and righteousness, disdain-
ing the judgment of God and every warning and plea from those who love them 
in truth.  Consider David (2 Sam. 11:2-4), Amnon (2 Sam. 13:1,2), and Samson 
(Jdgs. 16:1-21).

     God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Jas.
4:6).  Let us be sober, that is, free from the influence of intoxi-
cants (1 Pet. 1:13; 4:7; 5:8).   -------- Gilbert Alexander.   </HTML>
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From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com  Sat Dec  1 02:35:51 2007
From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com)
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2007 03:35:51 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] S) "LORD, IS IT I?"
Message-ID: <c12.22337172.348276e7@wmconnect.com>

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

"LORD, IS IT I?"

     "When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.
Now as they were eating, He said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will 
betray Me.'  And they were exceedingly sorrow-
ful, and each of them began to say to Him, 'Lord, is it I?'  He
answered and said, 'He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray 
Me.'  Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, 'Rabbi, is it I?' He 
said to him, 'You have 
said it'".  (Matt. 26:20-23,25).

The Hypocrisy Of Judas: -- One among the apostles knew the
betrayer.  "The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas
Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him" (Jno. 13:2).  He had al-
ready arranged with the chief priests to deliver Him to them
(Matt. 26:14,15).  Yet with feigned respect he addressed Jesus as Rabbi and 
asked with the others, "Is It I?"

     Jesus identified him by giving him a piece of bread.  Real-
izing that his purpose was known, Judas had a choice to make.  Jesus was 
saying to him, as God had said to Cain, "If
you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not well,
sin lies at the door.  And its desire is for you, but you should
rule over it" (Gen. 4:7).  He could respond by repenting and 
confessing his sin as David did when Nathan unmasked him
with that penetrating indictment: "Thou art the man."  Or he
could reaffirm his murderous purpose.

     "Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him" (Jno. 13:27).  He 
surrendered completely to Satan and "having rec-
eived the piece of bread, he went out immediately.  And it was
night" (Jno. 13:30).

The Sincerity Of The Eleven: -- It is remarkable that although
there was rivalry among the apostles (Lk. 22:24), there is no
evidence that the startling announcement of Jesus caused the apostles to look 
with suspicion on anyone else in their
number.  Their love and confidence in each other was such
that each one could imagine himself the culprit as readily as 
he could any of his companions.  This is the spirit that each
of us should have when we hear some sin condemned or some influence 
identified that threatens our salvation, or fami-
lies or the church.  Rather then looking with accusing eyes at
others we need to ask, "Lord, is it I?"  "But let a man examine
himself...for if we would judge ourselves, we would not be jud-
ged" (1 Cor. 11:28,31).

     It is hard for any of us to believe that we could actually be-
tray Jesus.  "Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take
heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).  Even though Peter would soon insist that 
he would never be offended in Jesus, he evid-
ently was humble enough at this point to join with all the others in asking, 
"Lord, is it I?"  (Matt. 26:22).  What a pity
this humility so soon gave way to pride, which in turn led to a
fall.

The Character Of Jesus: -- A notable quality of Jesus must
account for the fact that the disciples did not suspect Judas.
Jesus knew very early that Judas would betray Him (Jno. 6:70
71).  Yet not one word, not one glare, not one shrug suggest-
ed this to the other disciples.  Jesus even allowed Judas to
keep the money box (Jno. 13:29), giving him every encourage-
ment to repent and no excuse whatsoever for betrayal.  Love
"bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures
all things" (1 Cor. 13:7).

     It is also noteworthy that Jesus was able to bring the dis-
ciples to the point of asking, "Lord, is it I?"  Jesus could have
identified Judas and sent him on his way without instigating
this self-examination by the others.  It is a wholesome charac-
teristic of any message when the hearers are moved to ask, "Is it I?"  Too 
many sermons are a mere recitation of facts.
When a speaker finishes his argument he should assume that
the audience is saying, "So What?"  It is his duty to bring them to ask how 
it applies to them and how they can use the
information or implement the counsel he has given.  Doubt-
lessthis is the reason for the fact that more than once in con-
cluding a parable, Jesus cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Lk. 
8:8).

Conclusion: -- Of the congregation of which we are members,
the Lord surely can say, "I know your works" (Rev. 2,3).  And
I can almost hear Him say, "Some of you will betray Me."  May
we, not hypocritically as Judas, but humbly as the eleven, res-
pond, "Lord, is it I?"      ------ Sewell Hall in Biblical Insights,
Vol. 7, No. 5, May 2007.   </HTML>
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From robertwater at gmail.com  Sat Dec  1 11:55:11 2007
From: robertwater at gmail.com (Robert Waters)
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2007 09:55:11 -0800
Subject: [Biblemat] Web site update - Manners, Feeling saved, etc.
Message-ID: <f35990860712010955i3976bd82hdc8714b43d34e6cf@mail.gmail.com>

Greetings to all,
It has been some time since I have posted anything to the list.
Below are timely articles/sermons that I have recently added
to my web site:

 A Study on Manners <http://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-manners.htm>
Feeling Saved <http://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-feeling-saved.htm>
A Call For Watchfulness And Holy
Morals<http://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-feeling-watchfulness.htm>
The Jewish Agunah, the "Chained
Wife<http://www.totalhealth.bz/divorce-and-remarriage-chained-wife.htm>

If the above links to not work individually, go to
www.TotalHealth.bz <http://www.totalhealth.bz/> and then click on *new
additions* at the top and right of the home page.

I have taken two sermons on Feelings and developed ONE, along with Power
Point presentation.
If you would like a copy of it let me know and I will send you copies.

Brotherly,
Robert Waters
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From harperwest at yahoo.com  Sat Dec  1 19:03:28 2007
From: harperwest at yahoo.com (Steven C. Harper)
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2007 18:03:28 -0700
Subject: [Biblemat] A> You Are Not A Christian Just Because... [4]
Message-ID: <000601c8347f$270466f0$6401a8c0@Steven>

From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. 
Editor: Steven Harper 
December 2, 2007
You're Not A Christian Just Because. [4]

 

     In the interest of helping us all to make an honest self-examination, for the past few weeks we have considered some faulty ideas some people have about what it means to be a Christian. As has been stated, those faulty associations, and others we will cover today and next week, will give false impressions to others and false comfort to ourselves if we believe them true. Please take the time to consider these faulty associations and see why the association is faulty that you may understand what it means to truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ [a Christian]. If you, the reader, are holding any of these faulty associations and assumptions about what it means to be a Christian, my hope is that you will honestly examine these things and choose to do what God says you must do to become a child of God.

    That said, let us now take a look at some more faulty associations or beliefs about who is a Christian.

    You Are Not A Christian Just Because: You 'Go To Church.' Through the years, I have met many people who, in defense of their own, weak spiritual lives, made a point of strongly emphasizing they "go to church regularly." I have to tell you that of all the people who have made this point, the term "regularly" mean vastly different things to those who used it; some meant once or twice a year [every year, they add], while others insist their once-a-week visit with the brethren at the building was sufficient to be able to say they were "regular" in their attendance.

    Let me also make it clear that this "regular" attendance of some sort of religious assembly was offered up as a defense for their faithfulness before God. But let's make a simple observation that shows how weak this argument really is, shall we? Let's be logical for a minute.

    If mere attendance is a determining factor in faithfulness or even whether or not one is a Christian, then an atheist who shows up as "regularly" as the one who makes this claim could also say that he or she was a Christian! Would we concur? If not, how could we argue against it?

    Please keep in mind that "regular" attendance - while certainly desirable and even spiritually beneficial if you are worshipping as God intended and learning more about God's will - is not the end-all to defining faithfulness and certainly not whether one is a Christian or not. Men have for centuries based their determination of "rightness" in God's eyes this way and they have for centuries been wrong in doing so.

    Consider an example from the Old Testament, first of all. In the text under consideration (Ezek. 23:38, 39), we find God is angry with His people - for coming to the temple! What? God was angry for the people coming to the temple, His sanctuary? Yes, He was! But the reason He was angry was because they had first gone and killed their children in sacrifice to their false gods, then later in the same day they dared come to His holy house.

    I hope we all understand the righteous anger of God in this case because He did not just want the people to come and make sacrifices to Him; He wanted their hearts and He wanted their faithfulness. As it was, they were spiritually unfaithful to Him and they had committed heinous acts before coming in His presence - and yet they expected God to accept them! Let us not think that we can come together to God's house [the church, not the building] to worship God with sin in our lives and expect that God will accept us; let us also not think that we can come and worship God in the way we think is acceptable while ignoring God's plain commandments and what is approved by God's revealed word, the Bible.

    Consider also an example from the New Testament. In this text (Matt. 15:1-9), Jesus is questioned about why His disciples do not wash their hands according to the traditions of the Jewish fathers. In answering them, Jesus pointed out that they had set aside the commandments of God that they might keep their traditions and rightly called them hypocrites. He then pointed to the words of Isaiah and applied it to them, saying, "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." Can we see that God wanted their hearts and not just their presence? Can we see that God wanted their hearts, and not just their words of praise?

    It is good to want to worship with faithful brethren, but more importantly, it is good to be a member of the body of Christ - His church - where you are truly right in the sight of God and forgiven of your sins. Only believing, obedient disciples are a part of that church (cf. Acts 2:41, 47).

    You Are Not A Christian Just Because: You Have Been Baptized. With this statement, I must first explain some things about what constitutes true baptism because this is often a reason in itself why one is not a Christian.

    First of all, let us admit that man has a difference of opinion on - and even definition of - baptism. Many dictionaries define the word baptize as to immerse in water or sprinkle or pour water on. God's word does not so define the word, however. In the original Greek, the word is [baptidzo] which, by definition, means to immerse; to submerge [Thayer's]. Furthermore, in all accounts of New Testament baptism, we see that it was done where "much water" was (cf. John 3:23).  In consideration of your own baptism, you must first determine whether it was truly baptism at all. But we have other concerns!

    For what reason were you baptized? Since many religious groups "baptize" infants [again, not true baptism, according to the definition], could any of those infants say why they were being baptized? If so, I would like to hear the explanation! But even those who are older must be honest in examining the purpose of their baptism. Many religious groups baptize individuals merely as a means of entrance into the local church or the denomination as a whole; they teach that one is saved already but the baptism is what puts them into the church. You will not find such teachings in the written word of God, however. This practice of baptizing "saved believers" [as they say] comes from the erroneous doctrine which teaches we are saved by faith only. Those who promote this doctrine denounce the idea of baptism's place in salvation, but practice it as "an outward sign of inward grace" [a testimony to the world you are a saved person]. Again, you will not find this taught anywhere within God's word. If this was your baptism, you must be honest in examining your own heart and the reason why it was done and determine to do what God would have you do.

    But still others are baptized for ostensibly the right purpose and in the right way, but cannot be truly called Christians. Oh, we humans may see them as such and even they may be convinced they are, but God sees it differently because He knows the hearts of all men. Those who are baptized to please their parents, to please a spouse [or potential spouse], or for any other reason than sincere obedience to the will of Jesus Christ, have done it for the wrong reason and they will not be recognized by Jesus Christ as one of His disciples though all men may do so.

    If our baptism is not done as the beginning step of a new life in Christ, it is nothing more than a useless demonstration of how to get completely wet and we are no more a Christian than one who is grabbed off the street and dragged to the baptistery and dunked underneath the water against his will.  God wants more than just your body to be immersed in water; He wants your heart to be in it, too. Only then will He do the work of washing away your sins (Col. 2:11-13) and only then can you be called a Christian. -- Steven Harper

 

     Final article on this series next week.
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From richardthetford at msn.com  Sun Dec  2 17:07:44 2007
From: richardthetford at msn.com (Richard Thetford)
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2007 16:07:44 -0700
Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (12/2/07)
Message-ID: <BAY122-DAV9A96B14AE66CB9E472B66B0730@phx.gbl>

 



Walking in the Light

"For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light."
"The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the
simple." 

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another...."
(Psalm 36:9; 119:130; 1 John 1:7a)

December 2, 2007

www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

 

---

 

INFORMATION: My WEB Site  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com has just been updated to include the articles and
sermons listed below. All the sermons posted each week to my web site are in
.pdf format.  The PowerPoint charts are also included with ALL the sermons
that are posted to the web site. To access the sermons page, visit the site
and click on "Richard's Page" and then click on "sermons." Please visit the
"Reference Works" links page for updated links to various Bible study
resources. If you are a newcomer to the area or wanting information
concerning the San Juan church of Christ here in Montrose, Colorado, then
click on the San Juan church of Christ Web Site at
<http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org/> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org. Thank
you for visiting my web site and as always, your comments are welcome. 

                                                  

If you know of someone that would like to receive the "Walking in the Light"
electronic bulletin each week, please send an e-mail message to
<mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com  with their
name and e-mail address and I will add them to the list.

 

---

 

CONTENTS:

"Our Body Is For The Lord" (Richard Thetford)

"Set Thine House In Order" (Charles G. Maples)

"Sin" (Richard Thetford)

"You Tell On Yourself" (Selected)

 

---

OUR BODY IS FOR THE LORD

Richard Thetford

 

Christians realize that this is true - our bodies are for the Lord "Now the
body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body" (1
Cor 6:13). In todays society it seems that just about "everything goes".
People treat their bodies terribly and in ways that God never intended for
the body that He made to be used. Fornication is running rampant, especially
in our high schools of today. This is not what God ever intended for our
bodies to go through. Our bodies are members of Jesus Christ. "Know ye not
that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of
Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid" (1 Cor 6:15).
Everything about Christ is pure! Nothing about fornication is pure! If one
says that they are a Christian then they must also respect their body as
being the Lord's and treat it as such. Paul tells the Corinthians that every
sin that man does is without the body, except fornication. Fornication is a
sin against his own body! (1 Cor 6:18). Jesus said "If ye love me, keep my
commandments" (John 14:15). God's commandment is to abstain from
fornication. In 1 Thes 4:3 it says "For this is the will of God, even your
sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication". It further states
"That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in
sanctification and honour;" (1 Thes 4:4). A Christian is someone that does
everything within their power to obey the total commandments of God.
Therefore, a Christian would not willingly sin against the Lord. A Christian
would KNOW that their body is the Lord's!

 

---

SET THINE HOUSE IN ORDER

Charles G. Maples

 

Many times we have planned, and made arrangements for expected guests,
sometimes having weeks, or even months, to set things in order. But how many
times have you suddenly learned that otherwise unexpected visitors are to
arrive in a very short time? You rushed around to "set the house in order,"
to tidy up things. Even if you manage to get things looking "decent",
chances are that you are not nearly so pleased to invite your guests in when
they arrive, as when you had been forewarned earlier, and therefore had more
time to "get ready."

 

BUT THAT IS NOT THE HOUSE OF WHICH WE ASK!

 

Although we cannot expect God to give us a special warning, as He did
Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:1), He is, in His Word, warning us to set our spiritual
house in order. He shows us what it means to be ushered into eternity,
either prepared or unprepared, in Luke 16. Lazarus had made proper
preparations, and was at rest "in Abraham's bosom," while the rich man had
failed to "make ready," and therefore awoke in flaming torment!

 

So many of us have things "deranged" in our spiritual houses: Envy, strife,
bitterness, etc. have moved into our hearts, crowding out the "furnishings"
of love, forgiveness, sober thinking, meekness, etc. Still others, through
unfaithfulness, indicate they are not really concerned about the appearance
of their spiritual house. And, of course, there are so many, many others,
some of whom will read this, who have made no preparation at all - they have
not obeyed the gospel of our Savior! (See 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

 

Stop! Take a good look at your spiritual house. The Lord will return without
warning, as found in His word, and then you will find that it is too late to
"straighten up things!" Have you obeyed the gospel? Are YOU living
faithfully to Christ? Would you be happy to have Christ come and find your
spiritual house in its present condition? If not, then why do you wait?

 

"Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live." Do it Now!

 

(Taken from "The Instructor", February 1985, Volume 22, Number 2.)

 

---

SIN

Richard Thetford

 

The Bible states that sin is a fact of life (Rom 3:23), but there are many
that refuse to admit it or make efforts to "explain it away". Sin is not a
myth, and even though some may harden their hearts toward sin, it still
remains sin! Sin is a "transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4; Rom 4:15). All
unrighteousness that you or I may be guilty of is sin, it is a transgression
of God's law to man. Even though most realize that sin does exist, many will
not try to change their life to void themselves of sin. Man needs to know
what the consequences of sin are. Sin enslaves us (John 8:34), separates us
from God (Isa 59:2), keeps us OUT of heaven (John 8:21), and will condemn us
to eternal punishment (2 Pet 2:9; 2 Thes 1:9; Heb 10:28-29). Knowing this,
why is it that many continue in sin? Maybe it is because they do not realize
that there IS a REMEDY for sin. Through the blood of Christ (Heb 9:22; 1
John 1:7), every man can have FORGIVENESS of sin. Do you have sin in your
life? If so, we invite you to attend the San Juan church of Christ where you
will learn the conditions for salvation in Christ (Gal 3:26-27).

 

---

YOU TELL ON YOURSELF

Selected

 

You tell on yourself by the friends you seek.

By the very manner in which you speak.

By the way you employ your time.

By the use you make of dollar and dime.

 

You tell what you are by the things you wear.

By the spirit in which your burdens bear.

By the kind of things at which you laugh.

By the records you play on the phonograph.

 

You tell what you are by the way you walk.

By the things of which you delight to talk.

By the manner in which you bear defeat.

By so simple a thing as how you eat.

By the books you choose from the well-filled shelf.

 

So there's really no particle of sense

In an effort to keep up false pretense.

 

---

SERMON

 

The church of Christ (with PowerPoint Charts)

 

Sermons can viewed at my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com

 

---



Meets at:

1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C
Montrose, CO   81401
(970) 249-8116

 <http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org/> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org

 

ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY
Bible Study....................10:00 A.M.
Worship.........................11:00 A.M.
WEDNESDAY
Bible Study......................6:30 P.M.

 

Evangelist
Richard Thetford

(970) 626-5558

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

Web Site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> www.thetfordcountry.com

 

---

 

Richard Thetford



 

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

1491 Canyon Drive, Ridgway, CO  81432

Home: (970) 626-5558

Please visit my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com>
www.thetfordcountry.com

Evangelist, San Juan church of Christ

 <http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org

 

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From terrywbenton at bellsouth.net  Sun Dec  2 23:49:02 2007
From: terrywbenton at bellsouth.net (Terry W. Benton)
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2007 23:49:02 -0600
Subject: [Biblemat] Lessons On Man and Dinosaurs And Corruption of Our Nation
Message-ID: <E7784CBB1F504A6B8BA82D3B6AE38DD6@terrybentonPC>

Two Lessons added today:

1) Nations Without God -  showing why nations like ours are subject to fall if there is not a righteous element to sustain it.  Sodom fell and we can be sister to Sodom and fall for similar reasons.  It is frightening the trends in our country that mimick the reasons behind the fall of the Roman Empire.  The Good News is that we can save ourselves from this corrupt generation.

2) Why I Believe 7-b - It is reasonable to believe that man and dinosaurs lived at the same time. Genesis is correct. Evolution theory is wrong.  Jesus as Son of God was witness. Jesus believed and supported the Genesis account.  Here we look at historical evidences that man has indeed seen dinosaurs (National Geographic is wrong to assert that man has never seen dinosaurs).  Thus, the case is much stronger for the BIble, and the case severely weakens the theory of general evolution.

Terry W. Benton
terrywbenton at bellsouth.net

Nations Without God  AND  The Evidence of man and Dinosaurs

www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com

Do the Four Gospels Give Us Only Old Testament Applications?
http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVstudies/MMLJ/MMLJ.htm
Reviewing House-Church and Lord's Supper MEAL
http://www.uvachurch.com/Non-Traditional/Article_RadicalRestorationPreface.htm
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From Churchmousejd at wmconnect.com  Mon Dec  3 07:13:40 2007
From: Churchmousejd at wmconnect.com (Churchmousejd at wmconnect.com)
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2007 08:13:40 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] "lessons from the scriptures>A
Message-ID: <c89.1c39d28c.34855b04@wmconnect.com>

                                           ABIDE IN ME?


In the Apostle John's second letter, verse nine, he wrote, "Whosoever goeth 
onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God; he that abideth 
in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the son."   This warning 
is very often overlooked as such, and as proof we need only point to the 
existence of an estimated three thousand or so different denominations in the U.S. 
alone! Our conviction is, had they heeded this warning there would be only one 
Church as Christ had intended. There are two words of paramount importance 
contained in this verse; abideth, which basically means to 'stay put.' And the 
Greek word proago; translated here, goeth onward. (Our English word 'progress' 
derives from this Greek word). The first may be properly translated' to 
continue in (as does the Asv), other words or phrases often used to convey the 
thought are; 'to make one's home in or to remain in a situation. The latter means to 
progress or go beyond (the Kjv has transgresseth). This tell us that we may ' 
go beyond what God has authorized or to apostatize by not 'staying put.' And 
this harmonizes perfectly with what Jesus taught in John 15:4a. There, he 
said, "Abide in me, and I in you?" although often mistakenly rendered,' if you 
abide in me, as a consequence, I will abide in you.' While this may be true in 
principle, we believe the Greek construction is such that it should be 
considered a double imperative (something that must be done). Thereby rendering it; " 
abide in me, but you (personally) also have an obligation to do those things 
that cause me to abide in you."  In other words, we are to make our home in 
Christ and stay put; by filling our hearts and minds with God's teaching and 
allowing them to direct our lives. John describes it as 'Walking in the light 
(present tense, to keep on walking).' It is not something we do occasionally, but 
practice everyday as a way of life. Thus, we have made our home in Christ's 
teaching, and plan to stay there by complete obedience to his word. We add 
nothing to his word, we leave off nothing, we practice nothing but first century 
Christianity, Everyday we must make a concerted effort to weed out sin in our 
lives, with daily study, prayer and constant vigil against Satan's wiles. One has 
only to review the fallacious doctrines taught by these denominations to see 
they have 'gone onward' and no longer abide in Christ.
J.D.Williams
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From tssullivan at charter.net  Sun Dec  2 21:24:09 2007
From: tssullivan at charter.net (T. Sean Sullivan)
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2007 21:24:09 -0600
Subject: [Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 002 Iss 039
Message-ID: <001501c8355b$fa93b7a0$6466a8c0@sean1a4c1f786>

The Messenger

Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ

306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059   731-627-3514



bibleanswers at charter.net                                    www.mainstreetcofc.com

 

Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan

 

VOLUME 002::ISSUE 039 :: December 02, 2007  

 

ARTICLE ONE: Saved By Grace: Through Faith

ARTICLE TWO: "Fellowship of the Mystery"

 

Article One: Saved By Grace: Through Faith

 

     There is a religious term that has been notoriously misconstrued over the years: "grace". When one truly understands God grace they know how important it is to have a relationship with God wherein His grace is available.

The problem that exists is that many have misapplied the meaning, purpose, and promise of God's grace. Some have opened up God's grace to such a wide meaning that everyone will have the grace of God and in turn He will accept everyone. They believe that God's grace is like a big umbrella that covers the whole world so that God no longer sees sin. We need to clarify grace and know its true meaning. Through the study of the scriptures we need to understand how God's grace impacts our lives and our hope.  In this lesson we will focus on grace and launch our lesson from the second chapter of Ephesians.

 

We Are Saved by Grace:

According to Paul's inspired writings each of us has fallen short of perfection, we have all sinned (Romans 6:23). He also states in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death-separation from God. Sin is a perilous situation from which we cannot free ourselves (Romans 6:16 "slaves"). It is as if we are in a deep pit with no hope of ever climbing to the top to get out. It is at the bottom of this pit where all of us find our selves without God's grace. God's grace is the rope that God lowers into the pit. 

The word grace means "undeserved gift". God extension of this hope is "grace" because it is given without the receiver deserving to have it given.  Consider where we were when God extended the plan of salvation to us. According to Ephesians 2:12-18 we were afar off from God; Ephesians 4:17-19 says we were walking in futility, in the darkness of our understanding, alienated from God, hard of heart, given over to lewdness, and greedy workers of uncleanness. Certainly by this list we can see how God is offering something that we do not deserve to receive. God loves us enough to offer us what we do not deserve (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8).

 

We Are Saved By Grace and Not By Works

It is true to say that we are not saved by works. There is no work that will alone result in our own justification. Getting to Heaven is not about, "Look at what I have done" (Ephesians 2:9). Mankind is not strong enough to triumph over sin; all have sinned (Romans 3:23).  We are not smart enough to find his way out of sin (Jeremiah 10:23). Without God we have no avenue, opportunity, or ability to free ourselves from sin (Romans 6:16-18). God has freely given us: the avenue-Jesus Christ (Romans 5:6-8; John 14:6), the opportunity-our life (Acts 17:30-31; Hebrews 9:27), and the ability-a livable will (Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 12:1-2). 

 

We Are Saved By Grace Through Faith.

We cannot sit back and pretend that there is nothing for us to do.  There is much to do (Matthew 7:21; James 1:22-25). We must do the good works of faith (Ephesians 2:10). What is the difference between fruitless works condemned in Ephesians 2:9 and the good works commended in Ephesians 2:10? The "works" mentioned in Ephesians 2:9 are those self-declared works. Things that we decide are good; things that give us something to boast in ourselves over. The "good works" in Ephesians 2:10 are the works of God's choosing. God's chosen words are humble things not of our own design but of God's. We are simply meeting the requirements of God's grace by accomplishing the things that He has given us to do (Luke 17:6-10). All of the necessary works piled one on the other will never reach to Heaven. It is only with God's grace that the gap is bridged and our way is made available. 

Conclusion:

Without God's grace we would be hopelessly lost in our own sin. We must obey God to receive His grace (Matthew 7:21). We must continue to serve God to stay in His grace (Hebrews 10:35-39). We must have His grace to bridge the gap to our home in heaven (John 14:1-6). 

Grace is not a cover-all that masks our souls with Christ. We must strive to find God's grace and keep it (James 1:17-25). We must not abuse God's grace, but much rather count on it and trust it to be there for our salvation. If you are a Christian you have been saved by grace through faith. If you are not yet a Christian the grace of God has allowed Him to patiently wait and has provided you with opportunity to obey. Are you ready? ~tss

 

 

 

Article Two:  "Fellowship of the Mystery"

 

How is it that God is able to forgive your sins and make you acceptable for righteousness and ultimately a home in Heaven? You may be able to explain those things?  The information is available to you now. This, however, has not always been the case.

>From the "Garden" to the "cross" this avenue of acceptance was shrouded in mystery. Paul tells us that we are part of a fellowship or a stewardship of that mystery.  Did you know that as a Christian you are part of the fellowship of the mystery? We need to consider Paul's inspired words in this passage so that we might know the mystery.

 

What Is The Mystery?

It is something that Jesus began to reveal. By His parables He began to make known information that had never been known (Matthew 13:34-35). He taught concerning a "new" kingdom prepared for the "faithful" (Matthew 25:34).       He gave glimpses into that kingdom in Matthew 13:24 Parable of the Sower, Matthew 13:31 Parable of the Mustard seed, Matthew 13:33 Parable of the Leaven, Matthew 13:44 Parable of the Hidden Treasure, Matthew 13:45 Parable of the Pearl of great price, and Matthew 13:47 Parable of the Dragnet. 

Jesus told His disciples that He had only begun to reveal the mystery (John 16:12-15). He promised to send the Holy Spirit to finish the revelation of the mystery (all truth vs. 13). Peter, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, proclaims more concerning the "mystery"

When preaching on the day of Pentecost he reveals to the audience that they have a hope of salvation and freedom from their sins (Acts 2:36-42). This is part of the mystery: Salvation and freedom from sins through Jesus Christ. 

The fullness of the mystery is not revealed until the tenth chapter of Acts when Peter is called to teach Gentiles (Acts 11:15-18). The fullness of the mystery was then known: God has a plan for the salvation of all men, regardless of their nationality, through Jesus Christ. 

 

The Fellowship (Responsibility) of the Mystery:

The word translated as fellowship can fit appropriately in this place. However, more of the early Greek manuscripts contain a word better translated as stewardship or responsibility. So what is the "responsibility of the mystery"? Paul, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, reveals the responsibility of the mystery. In this passage Paul says that his responsibility is to make it known the mystery to all (Ephesians 3:9). He reveals that the mystery was created and accomplished in Jesus Christ by God-the Father (Ephesians 3:9-11). Paul declares the church as the witness to the mystery being revealed. It is with the creation of the church that God makes known His plan to all. Including the Heavenly host who apparently were waiting and watching for what would be revealed. In 1 Peter 1:10-12 we are told that the angels desired to know what would be revealed for man and that they desire to look into it. In the church the mystery-the plan-is available. We read this in Ephesians 1:3-10 and it is also clear from our passage in Ephesians 3:11-12.

                        

The Mystery Revealed Is No Longer Mysterious

We have no mystery today. All things that were at one time held in a cloak of mystery waiting for God's time to be revealed are now open and made known to all. The mystery was revealed as the eternal purpose of God. God's purpose was to save mankind from their sins. We do not need a new revelation or further explanation. We are no longer in the dark. God's plan is available to all who are willing to receive, believe, and obey His will. 

In God's plan: Jesus Christ was given as our sacrifice (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8; Hebrews 9:28). His blood paid the price of our redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19). He established the plan enabling all mankind, who are willing, to come to the Father (John 14:6). He established His church (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2). He has revealed all things that we must do to be part of that church (John 8:31-32; 2 John 9). Jesus will one day return bringing judgment (Acts 17:31). Those who are judged, as righteous will be rewarded the unrighteous will be condemned (Matthew 25:46).

 

Conclusion:

Paul was responsible to make known the mystery of God's plan. The great part for us is that we were included: We can be made acceptable. We are the select part of God's creation that is allowed to have our relationship with Him reestablished. When the time was right: God saw fit to reveal what He had planned for us. God's plan has not changed. There are no more parts waiting to be revealed there is no more mystery. Are you excited that you have been given this opportunity? Have you taken it? ~tss

 

                                    



 

 

If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward it to them or send me their email address and I will add it to the list.   Sean

 

 
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From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com  Mon Dec  3 02:32:52 2007
From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com)
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2007 03:32:52 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE ESSENCE OF AUTHORITY
Message-ID: <d68.19160b0d.34851934@wmconnect.com>

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

THE ESSENCE OF AUTHORITY

     It Is No Accident That Jesus Claims To Have All Authority: -
"in heaven and on earth" (Matt. 28:18).  His Father in His dec-
laration openly endorses the inherent nature of His authority.
"This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen
to Him" (Matt. 17:5).  This expresses Jesus' right to exercise
His power and thus, His authority must be obeyed.  His power
manifested during His earthly ministry caused amazement in
the disciples "for He was teaching them as one having author-
ity, and not as their scribes" (Matt. 7:27,28), but now it is con-
summate in heaven and earth.  Jesus did not assume this aut-
hority, but God, His Father, gave it to Him.

     Two words used in the New Testament rendered power or
authority (exousia and dunamis) must not be used to mean the same.   Exousia 
is "the power of authority (influence) and
of right"..."the power of rule...the power of him whose will and commands 
must be submitted to by others;" and dunamis means "strength, ability, power" 
(Thayer, pp, 159,
225).  One might possess the strength to do something while
not having the authority to do so.  And one might act in a local church as he 
pleases by forcing his way, but does not
have Bible authority to do it; if the Lord does not teach it -- no one may 
rightfully do it.

     During Jesus' earthly ministry He had a mission: "To do 
the Will of Him that sent Me" (Jno. 5:19,30) and, never in any
way under any circumstances did He violate His Father's Will.
He ever sought to please His Father in doing the things the
Father taught Him (Jno. 8:28,29).

     When Jesus ascended to the Ancient of Days He was "giv-
en dominion, glory and a kingdom" (Dan. 7:13,14).  Prior to 
the Holy Spirit being given (at Pentecost, Acts 2) Jesus had to be glorified 
(Jno. 7:39) which happened when He was "Tak-
en up in glory" (1 Tim. 3:16).  God then "raised Him from the
dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and
every name that is named...and He put all things in subjection
under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the
church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in
all" (Eph. 1:20-23).  So, the Father made Jesus the authoritat-
ive voice/head of the church/kingdom of God; He now reigns
with absolute authority over His church.

A Warning To Us: -- How dangerous it is for Christians to act
without the teaching of Christ to legitimatize the action.  Doing what makes 
one feel good or happy merely on the grou-
nds the end justifies the means is not acceptable with the
Lord.  What causes one to think that his likes are better for
him and others than what the Lord likes, that he must have his way in serving 
the Lord?  King Saul felt this way and was
informed that it is "better to obey than sacrifice" (1 Sam. 15:
22).  Naaman the leper expressed his opinion when Elisha told him to "go and 
wash seven times in the Jordan," saying,
"Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better
than all the waters of Israel" (2 Kgs. 5:8-14)? but he wasn't
cleansed of his leprosy until he obeyed "according to the word of the man of 
God."  He could have dipped in Abanah or
Pharpar, not Jordan that God specified, and it would have 
been by his own opinion and not by divine authority.  His wish for 
substitution in what God said would have changed
completely the Lord's specified requirements; God said "Jor-
dan" and Naaman wanted some other body of water!

     Inasmuch as Jesus is Head absolute of His chruch, Head
over all things to it (Eph. 1:22), that leaves no one with rights
to act for God without the teaching of Jesus.  When God does not speak on a 
matter one must not assume the silence
gives liberty for action.  This is a great fault seen in a number
of churches of Christ today.  Self-assumed forms to express
religious piety in public worship are not necessarily accept-
able to God.

     It appears the leadership roles in the separations from old
churches and the formation of so-called churches of Christ
are on the shoulders of aspiring inexperienced younger peop-
le who, with agenda, feign rightful authority to so treat the
church and do as they please.  Actions without Bible authori-
ty then become bolder in granting privileges for which God
has said nothing.  Instrumental music in worship and women
speaking in the public assemblies before men are just two
divisive issues now facing the churches that tolerate service
without authority.

     Religious reform and church restructure are not changes 
we need, but we do need humility and complete trust in the
living God based ofn the Living Word.  ---- Earl. E. Robertson
in Biblical Insights, Vol. 7, No. 5, May 2007.   </HTML>
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From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com  Mon Dec  3 02:32:43 2007
From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com)
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2007 03:32:43 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] A) HOW DO WE COME TO KNOW THE TRUTH?
Message-ID: <cfd.227eec5b.3485192b@wmconnect.com>

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Monday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

HOW DO WE COME TO KNOW THE TRUTH?

     Jesus spoke this to the Jews who believed Him:  "If you
abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed, and you shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jno. 8:31,
32).  In this text of Scripture we can see three principles that
tell us how we can come to know the truth.  The are believing
in Jesus, abiding in His Word, and being a disciple of Jesus.

     Let's begin by considering what is the truth.  The truth is
God's Word.  Jesus prayed to His Father about His disciples,
and asked Him to, "Sanctify them by Your Truth, Your Word
is Truth" (Jno. 17:17).

     As we come to know the truth we must first believe in Jesus as the Son 
of God, and our Lord and Savior.  This pro-
cess is described in Rom. 10:14-17.  Preachers are sent to 
preach God's Word.  People hear the Word of God, believe it,
and call upon the name of the Lord.

     Once one has believed and called upon the Lord they must become one who 
abides in the Word of God.  To abide
in something is to live in it.  God's Word becomes your home.
You dwell there fully and completely saturated with the Will of
God (1 Pet. 1:21-2:3).

     The third principle of knowing the truth involves being a
disciple of Christ Jesus.  We believe in Him, we abide in His
Word, and now we follow Him in our daily lives.  The apostle
John wrote, "But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of
God is perfected in him.  By this we know that we are in Him.
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just
as He walked" (1 Jno. 2:5,6).     ----- Ron Drumm.     
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From GLClair at aol.com  Mon Dec  3 09:25:44 2007
From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com)
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2007 10:25:44 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] Article - Who Decides
Message-ID: <d41.1af1c79c.348579f8@aol.com>

 
WHO  DECIDES? 
Often today as I travel  from place to place I notice that many churches 
advertise two or three kinds of  worship. Recently I saw a sign telling interested 
people that travel near the  church that the times of worship were 9:00 AM, 
10:00 AM, and 1:00 PM on Sunday.  The worship times did not get my attention 
but the stated type of worship did;  the first worship was referred to as 
traditional worship, the second worship was  referred to as contemporary worship; 
and the third was referred to as rock/rap  worship. 
I do not understand where  authorization from God comes from that states that 
there can be two or three  kinds of worship. I do not understand how three 
kinds of worship could be  acceptable to God based upon the concept that they 
are each different from one  another. Now, I know that the Bible [i.e. New 
Testament} authorizes one kind of  worship on the Lord?s Day which includes some 
specific items, such  as: 
    1.  Worship God in spirit and in truth  - John 4:23-24, ?23 But the hour 
cometh, and now is, when  the true worshippers shall worship the Father in 
spirit and truth: for such  doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. 24 God is 
a Spirit: and they that  worship him must worship in spirit and truth.?  ASV 
    2.  Worship God with psalms, hymns, and  spiritual songs                  
             [i.e. with the voice] - Eph 5:19, ?speaking one to another in 
psalms and  hymns and spiritual songs , singing and making melody with your 
heart to the  Lord;? ASV
Col 3:16, ?Let the word of Christ dwell in you  richly; in all wisdom 
teaching and admonishing one another with psalms (and)  hymns (and) spiritual songs , 
singing with grace in your hearts unto God.?  ASV 
    1.  Worship God by laying by in store  each 1st day of the week ?         
            1 Corinthians 16:1-2, ?1 Now  concerning the collection for the 
saints, as I gave order to the churches of  Galatia, so also do ye. 2 Upon the 
first day of the week let each one of you  lay by him in store, as he may 
prosper, that no collections be made when I  come.? ASV 
    2.  Worship God through  teaching/preaching ?  
Acts 20:7, ?And upon the first day of the week, when we  were gathered 
together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to  depart on the 
morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.?  ASV 
    1.  Worship God through  prayers - Rom 12:12, ?Rejoicing in hope; patient 
in  tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;?  KJV 
    2.  Worship God through the communion  [i.e. Lord?s Supper] ?  1 Cor 
10:16, ?The cup of blessing which we bless, is it  not a communion of the blood 
of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a  communion of the body of 
Christ?? ASV
Conclusion 
Now, other than these  actions noted for Sunday Worship of the one true God I 
do not know of any other  kind of worship or additions that God will approve. 
This being the truth, I  would suggest that those kinds of worship that leave 
the pattern noted herein  have left the faith and are in need of conversion 
to the truth of God?s Pattern  for Worship. The Holy Scriptures are clear on 
the importance of ?TRUTH? --- John  8:32-36, ?32 And ye shall know the truth,  
and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, 
 and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made 
free? 34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever 
committeth sin is  the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for 
ever: but  the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, 
ye shall be  free indeed.? KJV 

_glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)  
considermagazine.com



**************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest 
products.
(http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)
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From larryelong at sbcglobal.net  Mon Dec  3 23:54:53 2007
From: larryelong at sbcglobal.net (Larry Long)
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2007 21:54:53 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Biblemat] Mens training class
Message-ID: <560668.26941.qm@web80501.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

We have several men that have obeyed the gospel recently. Is there anyone out there that can direct me to some material for a mens trainging class? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
   
  Larry Long


Larry E. Long 
1724 West Lakeshore Dr. 
Alvarado, Texas 76009 
817-790-7253 
Galatians 3:27
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From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com  Tue Dec  4 03:43:54 2007
From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com)
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 04:43:54 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] A) FOUNTAINHEAD
Message-ID: <d53.1c91b333.34867b5a@wmconnect.com>

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Tuesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

FOUNTAINHEAD

     "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind'. This
is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: 'You shall 
love your neighbor as yourself.'  On these two
commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matt. 22:
37-40).

     If We Love Both God And Other People As We Should, 
Every Other Duty Will Flow From Our Hearts Very Naturally: --
"On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prop-
hets," Jesus said.  Paul expressed this truth by saying that
"love is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom. 13:10).  It is not that
love is our only obligation, but that we shall be happy to ful-
fill the other aspects of God's Will if we first love Him and then love other 
people.  Love is the fountainhead from which
all good obedience flows.

     This primary importance of love is often acknowledged, 
but it is not as often recognized that the love of which Jesus
spoke is something we decide as well as something we feel.
As M. Scott Peck wrote, "Love is an action, an activity.  It is
not a feeling."  We will not find the whole of God's Law being
fulfilled in us until we quit waiting for the arrival of loving feel-
ings and start deciding to act in ways that are consistent with
love.  Our intuitions as to what would be a "loving" thing to do are somewhat 
prone to error.  We must allow God to de-
fine what love is and what it should do in various circumstan-
ces.  As any parent knows who has ever had to discipline a
child, one can't always tell what love's duty is by simply taking a vote!

     Yet properly defined and consistently carried out, love is
the most potent force that is available to the human heart.  If
we wish truly to seek God, it is an absolute necessity.  With-
out love, our efforts are doomed to failure.  As the Russian
writer Turgenev said, "Love produces a certain flowering of the whole 
personality that nothing else can achieve."  So if we find ourselves failing 
consistently to obey God and to en-
joy the good things that come from obedience, then it's time
to stop trimming the leaves of the tree and strike at the tap-
root of the problem.  It's only when we learn the primary law
of love that the other laws begin to make sense.  --- Gary
Henry, via, Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 44, Nov. 4, 2007.   </HTML>
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From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com  Tue Dec  4 03:44:04 2007
From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com)
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 04:44:04 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] S) BEWARE!
Message-ID: <c67.2212b79a.34867b64@wmconnect.com>

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

BEWARE!

     In fourteen verses, the New Testament warns Christians to
"beware!"  The admonitions come from three different Greek
words:  (1) Prosecho; the word has a number of different de-
finitions but is used in these verses to mean "beware of, be 
on one's guard against something" (AG, 721).  It is used in
Matt. 7:15; 10:17; 16:5,11,12; Lk. 12:1; 20:46.  (2) Blepo: is the common 
word "to see," but is used in the sense of "watch
look to, beware of" (AG,143) in Mk. 8:15; 12:38; Acts 13:40; 
Phil. 3:2; Col. 2:8.  (3) Phulasso: this word is also used in a
number of senses but in the places translated "beware" it 
means "(to be on one's) guard against, look out for, avoid, w.
acc. of the pers. or thing avoided" (AG, 876).  The word is
translated "beware" in Lk. 12:15 and 2 Pet. 3:17.  The idea of
the word "beware" is that one should be conscious of the dan-
gers posed by certain things and be on his guard against them.  Consider some 
of the things of which the Christian is
to "beware":  Covetousness: -- Jesus warned, "Take heed, 
and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not
in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Lk. 12:
15).  Covetousness is the insatiable appetite for more.  If there were ever 
any nation of people who needed to listen to
this warning, it is early twenty-first century America.  Covet-
ousness becomes "idolatry" (Col. 3:5) when one's desire for
more things becomes the controlling motive of his life -- a new car, a bigger 
house, more clothes, the latest gadgets for
one's computer, more books, a bigger savings account, more
stocks -- the list is endless!

Hypocrisy: -- Jesus warned, "Beware of the leaven of the Pha-risees, which is 
hypocrisy" (Lk. 12:1).  The noun hupokrites
was used in ancient Greek to describe the stage actor who
pretended to be someone he was not.  It was later used in a
negative sense to describe the pretender or hypocrite.  Jesus
exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who performed their
alms to be seen of men (Matt. 6:1,2), prayed long prayers in
public places for the approval of men (Matt. 6:5), and chang-
ed their countenance when they fasted to be seen of men
(Matt. 6:16).  He described the man who tried to get the speck
out of his brother's eye while having a log in his own eye as a
hypocrite (Matt. 7:5).  He described those who came to Him
asking questions with an insincere motive (to trap Him) as 
hypocrites (Matt. 22:18).  A whole series of condemnations
against hypocrisy appear in Matt. 23.  Surely these stringent
statements should impress on each of us our own need to 
guard ourselves against the danger of hypocrisy.

False Prophets: -- However, more than anything else about 
which the KJV uses the word "beware," the Scriptures warn
against the danger of "false teachers" and "false doctrine."
Consider the following Scriptures:

Matt. 7:15; 16:6,11,12; Mk. 8:15; Phil. 3:2; Col. 2:8; 2 Pet. 3:17.

     Apparently the Lord wanted His children to be ever on 
guard against the danger that false doctrines and false teach-
ers posed to the local church and their personal lives.

     Unfortunately some brethren are not heeding the warnings
of the Lord.  Surely they do not think that they know better
than the Lord about the safest way to protect the Lord's peo-
ple.  What I witness happening is this:  Elders take a "bury
your head in the sand" approach to the dangerous false doc-
trines appearing in our age.  These elders take the position,
"Don't bother me with what is happening outside of our local
church.  It is not a problem for us and I don't need to know
about it."  Is that the conduct the Lord intended when He
commanded "Beware!" of various false prophets and teach-
ers?

     What would an elder and/or preacher need to do to "beware" of false 
doctrine and those who are promoting it?
Obviously, he cannot watch out for and avoid anything of 
which he is unaware.  He is going to have to keep himself
informed about the false doctrines being spread in his age.
And, inasmuch as false doctrines do not spread by a myster-
ious fog, but through the teachings of its proponents, he is
going to have to become informed about who is teaching those false doctrines 
so that he can protect the local church
from their influence among them.

     Thomas Jefferson said, "The price of freedom is eternal
vigilance."  While he was speaking about the need to protect
our nation, many centuries before, the Lord had said virtually
the same thing about the church.  One must be vigilant to 
maintain a faithful church.

     Is the congregation where you worship prepared against
the present day dangerous doctrines being disseminated?
Do the elders there and the preacher know about the doctrin-
es and how to answer them, and about the preachers who are
spreading such false doctrines?  Do any of the members know the error or is 
this something that is never talked about
before the congregation?  As a result, when the elders die and the preacher 
moves, one has an uninformed and unpro-
tected congregation!  Is this the situation Jesus warned against when he 
said, "Beware!"?

     How well is teh congregation where you attend doing in
protecting the church from false teaching and false teachers?
----------- Mike Willis in Truth Magazine, Vol. 51, No. 9, Sept.
2007.   </HTML>
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From kerux at bellsouth.net  Tue Dec  4 08:18:56 2007
From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton)
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 09:18:56 -0500
Subject: [Biblemat] A>The law against spanking (Kent Heaton)
Message-ID: <002c01c83680$9c6074e0$0101a8c0@D2381J91>

The Law Against Spanking

(Kent Heaton)

 

The news from Massachusetts should not come as any surprise to our humanistic society that continues to degrade the foundation of a belief in Jehovah God. The principles of right and wrong no longer are determined by a moral sense of what God says but rather the liberal view of freedom for each to choose as they desire. The book of Judges concludes with an observation that is very much likened to our day: "In those days there was no king in Israel. Every man did the right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). 

God is not the center of the moral universe. His laws of right and wrong are replaced with the decadent immorality of selfish desire. Homosexuality, adultery, sexual perversion and evil thoughts are accepted as a norm (as seen on television daily). Prayer is forbidden in school, the Ten Commandments are rejected and God is slowly being removed from every facet of society. Now from the state of Massachusetts comes a bill proposing a ban on spanking. The issue is clouded with an appeal to those children who have been abused by parents who are unfit to be parents; who beat their children in their anger and abuse them in unforgivable ways. 

The humanistic agenda is ripe with language that refuses the rights of parents to train their children. The government is seeking to step into the family circle and determine how parents treat their children. The early disciples of Christ were forbidden to teach in the name of Christ and the apostles replied, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

Amram and Jochebed disobeyed the kings command to kill their infant son (Moses: Exodus 1,2) because they were "not afraid of the kings command" (Hebrews 11:23). Pharaoh decreed the death of the infants and Moses' parents withstood the law to obey the law of God. Today, parents will need the same courage to stand against ungodly laws that prohibit the God decreed law of training children in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).

Children must have guidance. "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a boy sent off causes shame to his mother" (Proverbs 29:15). "He who fathers a fool does it to his sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy . A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him" (Proverbs 17:21, 25). Children must have discipline - not abuse. "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him chastens him early" (Proverbs 13:24). "Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your soul on making him die" (Proverbs 19:18). "You shall strike him with the rod and rescue his soul from Sheol" (Proverbs 23:14).

The rod spoken of by God never suggests abuse. God abhors those who would abuse children (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). The rod is the measure of discipline that brings about proper training. It does inflict pain. Parents who do not discipline their children hate their children. Read Hebrews 12:5-11 to see the clear purpose and design of discipline. This is God's pattern. Let us have boldness to do what is right. "Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right" (1 Peter 4:19).

 

Kent Heaton
207 NE Fourth Avenue
Trenton, Florida 32693
(H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793
(C) 352-283-3889
www.trentonchurchofchrist.com
www.northfloridabiblecamp.com
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From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com  Tue Dec  4 08:53:12 2007
From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry)
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 09:53:12 -0500
Subject: [Biblemat] S:> Peace
Message-ID: <BAY132-DAV8EF0D87CABD1240100009B26D0@phx.gbl>

http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html

                              Peace

I. Introduction
   A. Romans 15:33, Philippians 4:7
   B. Constant message within the Gospel is the message of peace
   C. Christians are called to be peaceable people (Galatians 5:22, 
      2 Corinthians 13:11)
   D. Why is peace so important?
   E. How may we become peaceful people?
   F. Let us consider what the Scriptures teach

II. Desiring Peace
   A. In general, peace is recognized as a desirable attribute
      1. As Galatians 5:22-23 declares, there is "no law" against peace
      2. Peace is generally associated with prosperity and growth
      3. While many may be "anti-war," how many are "anti-peace"?
   B. But what kind of peace is generally sought?
      1. People do appreciate peace.but what kind of peace?
      2. A "tolerant" peace, a comfortable zone where everyone gets 
         along
      3. There is no room for "wrong" in this idea of peace
      4. As long as there is political stability, many believe that 
         there is peace
   C. Is this the idea present in Biblical peace?

III. Jesus and Paradoxical Peace
   A. In the New Testament, Jesus Himself presents a paradoxical form 
      of peace
      1. Paradox: two seemingly contradictory statements that are both 
         true
      2. "Win by losing" or "we have to destroy this house to save it"
   B. Jesus is heralded as the Prince of Peace, bringing peace to 
      mankind
      1. Isaiah 9:6
      2. Luke 1:79, 19:38
      3. John 14:27
   C. And yet Jesus says that He does not bring peace, but a sword!
      1. Matthew 10:34-39 (cf. Luke 12:51-53)
      2. Internal strife and discord to be present
   D. How can it be that Jesus brings peace but yet does not bring 
      peace?
   E. We cannot take either idea in exclusion, but see how they work 
      together!
   F. Note that the peace of Jesus comes only to those who believe in 
      Him
      1. cf. John 16:33
      2. Romans 2:10, 5:1
   G. The conflict and strife is due to Jesus is not because of Jesus' 
      personality or that believers are to be marked by strife and 
      division, but is the natural result of sin being exposed
      1. If a family consisted of believers, the sword would not 
         divide!
      2. Hebrews 4:12
      3. The works of darkness do not like being exposed 
         (Ephesians 5:11)
   H. Thus we understand Jesus' paradox and a bit about Biblical peace
      1. The peace that Jesus brings does not rejoice in error or 
         unrighteousness
      2. Such are contrary to Jesus' peace
      3. The peace that Jesus provides is for believers in Him

IV. The Peace of Jesus
   A. What is the peace that Jesus came to bring?
   B. Reconciliation of Jew and Gentile
      1. Ephesians 2:14-17
      2. Where there was once hostility between Jew and Gentile on 
         account of the Law, Jesus came and reconciled the two in 
         Himself
      3. How was that even possible?
   C. Acts 10:36: the Gospel as the "good news of peace"
      1. Also seen in Ephesians 6:15
      2. How can the Gospel be a message of peace?
   D. The Gospel is a message of peace because it promotes the 
      reconciliation of man and God in the blood of Christ
      1. Colossians 1:20
      2. Romans 5:1: peace through having been justified in Christ
      3. Romans 15:13: peace in believing
   E. The peace of Jesus, therefore, is an internal peace, the result 
      of our reconciliation with God
      1. God as a God of peace-- 1 Corinthians 14:33
      2. 1 Peter 2:25 
      3. When we are right with God, no matter what may befall us, we 
         can still have inner peace, since our association with God 
         remains unbroken (Romans 8:31-39)

V. Manifesting Peace
   A. The peace of a Christian, therefore, is rooted in his 
      relationship with God
   B. It is to flow from the inside!
      1. It cannot be that we have an exterior of peace with internal 
         turmoil or hostility
      2. Philippians 4:7
   C. Peace, alongside love and joy, is to come from inside the 
      Christian and be manifest to fellow Christians and to all those 
      in the world
      1. 2 Corinthians 13:11
      2. Romans 8:6, 14:19
      3. Romans 12:16, 18
      4. Ephesians 4:1-3
      5. Preeminently, Colossians 3:15
   D. While the promotion of the Gospel leads to strife and persecution 
      on account of the reaction of unbelievers, it must never be that 
      Christians are the ones acting in contentious ways, engendering 
      strife!
      1. Contentiousness and strife represent works of the flesh, not 
         the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-23)
      2. Hence Paul's statement: as much as it depends on you, live 
         at peace with all men (Romans 12:18)
      3. This never justifies a spirit of retribution or vengeance 
         (cf. Romans 12:19ff)!
   E. In the end, we as Christians are to manifest peace because of 
      the peace that God has given us!
      1. We are at peace with God since we have been reconciled to Him 
         through His Son
      2. We wish that all men would be able to find that peace
      3. We have peace because we have been delivered from the strife 
         of the world of sin!
      4. Why would we seek to return to that world of strife?
      5. Why would we wish to fall prey to strife and hostility, by 
         which God's purposes can never be accomplished (James 1:20)?
      6. If we seek to lead people to the God of peace, we ourselves 
         must manifest His peace in our lives!

VI. Conclusion
   A. We have examined what God has said about peace
   B. We have seen the nature of the peace that God provides
   C. Let us all strive to manifest the peace given to us by God in 
      our lives!
   D. Invitation/songbook

Ethan R. Longhenry/ disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com
Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio
 (http://www.norwalkchurch.org)
Website: http://www.deusvitae.com
AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ#: 28317056
MSN Messenger ID: deusvitae at hotmail.com
Yahoo! Messenger ID: discipuliiesus

Subscribe to Good News for Norwalk!
goodnewsfornorwalk-subscribe at norwalkchurch.org

From jwquinn at sbcglobal.net  Tue Dec  4 11:34:24 2007
From: jwquinn at sbcglobal.net (Jon W. Quinn)
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 11:34:24 -0600
Subject: [Biblemat] Expository Files 14.12 (December) available
Message-ID: <ADEOIPIDBEJAHDNEBCJLKEDBCPAA.jwquinn@sbcglobal.net>

Completing our 14th year of publication (1994-2007)

Expository Files - December 2007

**Our 168th monthly issue**

Expository Files is a monthly electronic journal dedicated to Biblical
studies. It is edited by Warren E Berkley and Jon W. Quinn. This effort
began with the January, 1994 issue and continues to this day. In addition to
the four or so expository articles by different writers in each issue, there
are special topical studies. In addition, each issue begins and ends with
editorials by the editors.

Thanks to our writers and our readers for making Expository Files such a
success!

----------------------------------------------------------

Expository Files 14.12; December 2007
Co-edited by Warren E. Berkley and Jon W. Quinn

----------------------------------------------------------
This month's issue contains:

The Master I Choose
Front Page 14:12
By Jon W. Quinn

The Teacher Teaches Us to Pray
Matthew 6:9-13
By Jon W. Quinn

A Body You Have Prepared For Me
Hebrews 10:5-7
By Allen Dvorak

Orthopraxy
James 1:22-2:26
By Warren E. Berkley

The Powerful Word Of God
Hebrews 4:12
By Jim McDonald

He Needed a Faithful Father
Topical Page
By Jon W. Quinn

Plan of Salvation

Our Contact With His Death
The Final Page 14:12
By Warren E. Berkley

----------------------------------------------------------

EF can be found at the following places:

http://www.bible.ca/ef/
Every issue - 1994 to present; every article; html; arranged by book; topic
and/or issue;
Search engine

http://expositoryfiles.homestead.com/index.html
2004-2006 in html by issue; 1994-2003 in zipped self executable format for
IBM

http://www.geocities.com/w_berkley/
EF in PDF by issue; Sept 2003 to present

=====
Jon W. Quinn
jwquinn at sbcglobal.net
Bradley Church of Christ
Bradley, IL 60915



From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com  Tue Dec  4 11:59:47 2007
From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry)
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 12:59:47 -0500
Subject: [Biblemat] Renewed in Spirit / New Material Available!
Message-ID: <BAY132-DAV1071BFA502A426BBABD5D0B26D0@phx.gbl>



  
 
Greetings, everyone!

We hope all is well with you as the winter season comes upon us quickly.

We're making a few changes at Renewed in Spirit. We're going to begin distributing on a monthly basis, and we're trying to change the e-mail format for your convenience. Please let us know what you think of these changes! 

We are pleased to announce that new material is available at Renewed in Spirit. Please visit the website, register or login, and join the discussion!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editorial
Evangelism in the 21st Century (3): Modern Evangelistic Methods
Ethan R. Longhenry

We have spent some time considering evangelism in the 21st century. We have surveyed the modern religious climate and have demonstrated how the first century offers many parallels with the twenty-first century. We also considered the modern trend toward isolationism and the need for the church to be the community of God's people that God desires it to be. Having seen the religious condition of the twenty-first century, what can we do to promote the Gospel in this day and age? What methods are currently being used, and do they really accomplish what God desires?

Please click here to read more and discuss!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soteriological Security (Part 1)
Jarrod Drawbaugh

In 1 John 5:13 the beloved apostle writes "These things have I written unto you, that ye may be pretty sure that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God." If you are familiar with this verse, you will notice I did not quote it correctly. John does not say that we can be "pretty sure" or that we may "think" that we have eternal life, but rather that we may "know" we have eternal life. When you know something, therein is found security. If you know that your mate loves you and you love your mate and that neither of you would do anything to hurt the other, then there is security in the sanctity of your marriage. If you know that you are going to get enough of a paycheck to pay the bills and support your family, then you have financial security. If we can know that we have eternal life dwelling in us then we can have what I will call in this article soteriological security. Soteriology is the study of salvation, so when I say soteriological security, I mean security in knowing that we are saved.

Please click here to read more and discuss!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Distinguishing Faiths
David Flatt

One of the major themes of the Bible is faith. Readers of the Bible cannot help but notice the subject of faith at work in both the Old and New Testaments. The Bible uses faith in two distinguishable senses. Our job is to make the distinctions between to two concepts. What am I talking about?

Please click here to read more and discuss!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ever Grab a Dog's Ears?
Mark Roberts

  He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears (Proverbs 26:17).
I am a huge fan of dogs. Big ones, small ones, tall ones, fat ones. I love dogs. They are friendly, loyal, fun, loyal, hard working, loyal, furry and loyal (not necessarily in that order). I once heard an old story that when God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden part of the punishment was that a huge divide opened between them and the animal kingdom. In the last second before the chasm separated people and animals, the story went, the dog jumped across to forever stand with humans. While that story certainly is not biblical, it sounds pretty good to me because it reminds me of most of the dogs I have ever known.

Please click here to read more and discuss!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Life is Short
Garreth Clair

The events that take place around us each week tell us that human life is short. As we examine our recent memory we are cognizant of the frailty of life here in this world, our missing friends who have gone to meet the Lord attest to this fact. Whenever we gather for a family gathering or whenever we attend the services of the congregation where we usually attend we look about us and recognize that some are now gone to meet the Lord. It is a fact that cannot be over exaggerated: life is short!

Please click here to read more and discuss!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the ladies...
Editorial
Of Songs and Sons
Sarah L. Longhenry

Romans 8:16-30 is perhaps the most encouraging passage for me personally:

  The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward. For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth? But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Please click here to read more and discuss!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proverbs 31: An Analysis of the Virtuous Wife, Part 13
Brooke Williams

  She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple (Proverbs 31:22).
Let us take a look at this in the context of the last verse, since they both talk about clothing.

  She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple (Proverbs 31:21-22).
Please click here to read more and discuss!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We again thank you for your interest, participation, and especially your patience with us, and we hope to continue to provide encouragement to you in your walk with God.

Thanks!

ELDV

Ethan R. Longhenry / editor at renewedinspirit.org
Editor, Renewed in Spirit
an interactive online spiritual publication
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From larryelong at sbcglobal.net  Tue Dec  4 13:32:51 2007
From: larryelong at sbcglobal.net (Larry Long)
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 11:32:51 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Biblemat] Men's training class
Message-ID: <942945.54684.qm@web80502.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

Thanks to all who have responded to my request for material on a men's training class. I have some really good material.
   
  Brotherly,
   
  Larry


Larry E. Long 
1724 West Lakeshore Dr. 
Alvarado, Texas 76009 
817-790-7253 
Galatians 3:27
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From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com  Wed Dec  5 03:07:56 2007
From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com)
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 04:07:56 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] A) THE POWER OF LOVE
Message-ID: <c0c.234fba4a.3487c46c@wmconnect.com>

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Wednesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

THE POWER OF LOVE

     The love of God saves the human being He created!  God's human creation 
sinned and fell from the Creator's pres-
ence.  God in His love did what His own righteousness requir-
ed:  "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for
us" (1 Jno. 3:16); and "In this the love of God was manifested
toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the
world, that we might live through Him" (1 Jno. 4:9).  Now that
is powerful love!

     God's love comes from amazing mercy and grace.  Love
begins from a Father Who loves His fallen children: "In this is
love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent
His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 Jno. 4:10).  Also
"We love Him because He first loved us" (4:19); and "God is
love" (4:8), impresses us with the greatness of God's love.

     Mankind's response to God's love is all about believing and knowing the 
love God has for them.  Fellowship with God
is built upon His love: "God is love, and he who abides in love
abides in God and God in him" (1 Jno. 4:16).

     The apostle John describes the power of God's love in the
lives of Christians: "But whoever keeps His Word, truly the
love of God is perfected in him.  By this we know that we are
in Him" (1 Jno. 2:5).  There are at least six results of God's
powerful love working in Christians:

     1) God's love keeps Christians from stumbling (1 Jno. 2:10

     2) God's love assures passage from death (1 Jno. 3:14).

     3) God's love proclaims that Christians are born of God 
         and know God (1 Jno. 4:7).

     4) God's love reveals that God abides in Christians, and
          His love has been perfected in them (1 Jno. 4:12).

     5) God's love gives Christians boldness in the day of judg-
         ment (1 Jno. 4:17).

     6) God's love casts out fear (1 Jno. 4:18).

     Over and over again the love of God shouts, "Love your
brother."  You can not claim the power of God's love if you do not love your 
brother (1 Jno. 4:20)!    ----- Ron Drumm.   </HTML>
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From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com  Wed Dec  5 03:08:06 2007
From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com)
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 04:08:06 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] A) ANCIENT PROPHETS IN A MODERN WORLD  (1)
Message-ID: <bf7.21c5c31a.3487c476@wmconnect.com>

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
ancient files.  Use to the glory of God.

ANCIENT PROPHETS IN A MODERN WORLD  (1)

God And The Nations Today: -- As a thinking Christian reads
his newspaper and magazines he cannot but reflect upon the
question, "What part does God have in the nations of today;
or, does He have any part?"  I believe this question is definit-
ely answered in the Prophets of the Old Covenant and con-
firmed by the apostles of the New.  This conclusion rests on
the following premise: God is immutable, He changes not; the
principles on which He acts flow from Himself.  Therefore, the
principles followed by Him in ancient times are as immutable
as the character of God from Whom they flow.  If this premise
be true, then as one looks for the principles followed by Jehovah in times 
gone by, he can determine the policies God
follows today, for they will rest upon the same immutable character of the 
unchangeable God.  Therefore, we look NOT
for specific nations of today to be mentioned or referred to in
the Prophets, but we look for the principles upon which God
acted then toward the nations of that day, and applying the
same principles today we can determine His action and part
in the affairs of nations today.

     Objections to this may be raised by some on the ground
that the covenant has been changed: we are no longer under
the covenant in which the principles are revealed.  This is 
readily conceded.  We are not under the Old Covenant nor any part of it, nor 
have we been.  But the fact that God took
away the national covenant and made a covenant pertaining
to the individual, a spiritual covenant, under Christ -- does
this, I say, invalidate the principle upon which God dealt with
nations, or mean that God has now abandoned the nations
to their own way with absolutely no interferences or over-rul-
ing on His part?  This we believe not.  The fact tht God rules
in His kingdom through Christ does not necessarily mean that
He has no part in the other.  But this is the point we seek to
establish in this article.

     God's Use Of Assyria: -- In the ninth and eighth centuries
(B.C.), Assyria reached the zenith of her power and sway over
the world.  In the latter half of the eighth, under Tiglath-Piles-
er, she began the invasion of Syria and Palestine which result-
ed in the overthrow and captivity of Samaria by Shalmaneser
(727-722) and Sargon (722-705).  This invasion was a threat to
Judah and Jerusalem as well as Samaria.  Isaiah (740-690) was the great 
prophet of the hour, and it was only by the intervention of Jehovah that Jerusalem 
was spared.  The task
of this prophet was to champion Jehovah's cause and power,
and to hold a remnant true to Him.  Through his labors (and
of course, teh providence of God), the captivity of the South-
ern Kingdom was averted for another 135 years.

     But what was God's attitude toward Assyria?  One phase
of the prophet's message was that Jehovah's sway is univer-
sal: He ruled in the destiny of Assyria.  Assyria, in all of its
power and dominion, was merely an instrument in the hand of
God.  "Ho Assyria, the rod of mine indignation!  I will send him against a 
profane nation, and against the people of my
wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take
the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets"
(Isa. 10:5,6).  A rod or staff in the hands of Jehovah, execut-
ing His  wrath and accomplishing His purpose!  But was there
any such intention in the heart of the Assyrians?  Not at all!
"Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so;
but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a
few" (vs. 7).  Since it was in the Assyrian's heart to follow such a course, 
God would simply use him to do His work.

     In the minds of some this should have left the Assyrians
guiltless in what he did, but such is not the case.  "Wherefore
it shall come to pass, that, when the Lord hath performed His
whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish
the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his 
high looks.  For he hath said, by the strength of
my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I have under-
standing...I...I" etc. (vss. 12-14).  It was "I, I, I."  The Assyrian
had absolutely no consciousness of God or of His hand in his
work.  To this God replied, "Shall the axe boast itself against
him that heweth therewith?  Shall the saw magnify itself 
against him that weeldeth it? as if a rod should wield them
that lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up himthat is not wood.  
Therefore will the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and 
under his glory there shall
be kindled a burning like the burning of a fire" (vss. 15,16).

     Because of His hand in the destiny of Assyria, Jehovah's
exhortation to His people that dwelt in Zion was, "Be not afraid of the 
Assyrian, though he smite thee with the rod, and
lift up his staff against thee after the manner of Egypt.  For
yet a very little while, and the indignation against thee shall be 
accomplished, and Mine anger shall be directed to his des-
truction" (vs. 24).  Some few years later God delivered Judah
from the hand of Sennacherib by the miraculous slaying of 
185,000 of his men (2 Kgs. 19:35-37), however it is not with 
this that we are immediately concerned, but with the overall
and ultimate end of Assyria through natural, but providential-
ly directed means.

     About a century after Isaiah's prophecy concerning Assy-
ria, Zephaniah (639-608) predicted the ultimate end of Ninevah
the capital of Assyria: and Nahum discribed its fall sometime
prior to the actual fall, 609-606.  Someone has described the
book of Zephaniah by saying, "No hotter book lies in all the
Old Testament.  Neither dew nor grass nor tree nor any bloss-
om lives in it, but it is everywhere fire, smoke and darkness,
drifting chaff, ruins, nettles, saltpits, and owls and ravens looking from 
the windows of desolate palaces" (Geo. Adam
Smith, Book of the Twelve Prophets, Vol. II, P. 48).  Of Assyria
the prophet declared, "And he will stretch out his hand against the north, 
and destroy Assyria, and will make Ninevah
a desolation, and dry like the wilderness.  And herds shall lie
down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both
the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in the capitals there-
of; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the 
thresholds...how is she become a desolation, a place
for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall
hiss, and wage his hand" (Zeph. 2:12-15).  While in another
place God said, "I will make thy grave, for thou art vile" (Nah.
1:14).  For centuries its grave has been beneath the sands
and dust of two and a half millenniums.  Only in recent years
has its site been identified and has it been the object of exca-
vations of the archaeologists.  When its purpose was served,
God laid it low.  (More will be posted on this subject tomorr-
ow, the Lord willing, JWS).   </HTML>
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From rankinjmecoc at earthlink.net  Wed Dec  5 10:07:19 2007
From: rankinjmecoc at earthlink.net (joey rankin)
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 10:07:19 -0600
Subject: [Biblemat] Emailing: PHILEMON - A Textual Study
Message-ID: <00b401c83758$ea24f740$2101a8c0@JoeyRankin>

Brethren - A textual study of the epistle to Philemon has just been uploaded
to our web site at www.mecoc.org on the Bible Studies page under the heading
Books of the Bible. We hope you enjoy the study.

In His Service,
Joey
The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:

PHILEMON


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From jerry at eldorable.kscoxmail.com  Wed Dec  5 16:43:23 2007
From: jerry at eldorable.kscoxmail.com (Jerry  Blount)
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 16:43:23 -0600
Subject: [Biblemat] What happened  to the people that wrote your Bible?
Message-ID: <0d5b01c83790$3ed0f8c0$1c02a8c0@dadsdell>

Jerry Blount to the list
Today's posting is from a book I have been writing on Christian evidences. I
just completed the chapter on the witnesses of the Bible. It answers the
obvious question of What ever happened to "so and so" in the Bible? 

Today folks have repeated statements like, "You just can't trust your Bible"
for so long that many don't realize that... these "unanswerable" questions
are often very easy to answer! This is one such subject. It is brutally easy
to tell the difference between a true and a false prophet using Bible
standards. 

This is not rocket science...but it is work! You have to want to do so. In
this article, I have used the Book of Mormon as an example of false religion
to compare to the Bible. The difference is truly dramatic when you compare
the personal lives of each book's respective authors. 

This one is obviously long. It is a chapter out of a book. If it is too
long... that's why they gave you a delete button! (Just kidding) One other
option is to scan to the bottom if you are only interested in the list final
endings for Peter, James John etc. 

Actually this is an article you may wish to save so that you have a
"detailed" answer when someone asks you why you believe Jesus rose from the
dead... if you do. Recalling the principle is easy. Keeping the details
straight is not so easy. 

If you are not a Christian and do not believe in the resurrected Savior...
here is my explanation of just one of the reasons why I do. To a man, these
men went to their deaths still swearing they had seen the risen Jesus. 

Innovative and cruel methods were used to get them to renounce their
faith... They would not. 
Enjoy
Jerry 

  _____  

The character of the Bible's Witnesses

Isaiah 43:10-11

"You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have
chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. I, even
I, am the LORD, And there is no savior besides Me."

 

The strength of any testimony absolutely depends on the quality of it's
witnesses.  The Bible is not unique in that respect.   In a court of law,
the witnesses are often tried as aggressively as the accused.  The reason is
simple, there is a lot at stake and we need to be sure the story holds up to
competent investigation.  

 

God went to a lot of trouble to be sure we would have the ability to test
and know that His story was true.  The Bible really did come from God.
Let's begin looking at the Bible's testimony and evaluating it's witnesses.

The first and obvious testimony inside our modern completed work is
prophecy.  By 740 BC God's batting average is so clearly established that it
became the basis of other discussions as we can see in Is. 43 under our
title.  

 

This broad section in Isaiah (which consists of the second half of the book
of Isaiah) is making that case.  God notes that the Jewish people had become
His witness to the world at large.  Jehovah is God and He has spoken.  The
effect of the Jewish witness is clearly seen in that when Jesus came, He was
expected.  In other words, Jesus did not just show up and say, "I have
arrived, look at Me!"  

 

Let's look in on one of Jesus' conversations. (He is dealing with the
Samaritan woman.)  John 4: 25-26.  The woman said to Him, "I know that
Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will
declare all things to us."

 Jesus *said to her, "I who speak to you am {He.}"

 

The bottom line is they were looking for "Messiah!"

 

For the record, both Joe Smith (of Mormon fame) and Muhammad, "just
arrived."  The Bible addresses the kind of witness presented by Smith and
Muhammad.  Through Isaiah God actually challenges both of these worldly
religions to put up or shut up.  (Something neither of them did!)  The
witnesses of both Smith and Muhammad are very different from those bringing
us the Bible.

 

Isaiah 44: 8-9  'Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since
announced {it} to you and declared {it?} And you are My witnesses. Is there
any God besides Me, Or is there any {other} Rock? I know of none.' Those who
fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are
of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they
will be put to shame."

 

The idolatry aspect of God's challenge would not apply as directly to Islam
as it would to the Mormon religion, but the folly of witnesses to a worldly
religion is self evident.  It leads to shame.  Neither of these men could
have responded to God's challenge to the world's religions issued from the
God of heaven Himself! 

 

"King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do."

Acts 26:27.

 

 Match God's examples of prophecy. and expectation.   Their inability to do
such should leave their followers in shame. Many do not know to be ashamed.
Today most people don't take the time to compare Christianity with the
world's religions so they really don't know how it stacks up.  

 

I.E. As a people, many of us have forgotten our heritage.   We have also
forgotten that Jesus always intended for us to question before we follow.  

 

Notice that Jesus truly wished for us to demand something greater than the
single testimony of men, our eyes etc.  Any one of the avenues of gathering
information can sometimes deceive us. but not all of those avenues at once.
Here is Jesus' advice in this regard. 

 

John 5

The witness of Jesus

31.  "If I {alone} testify about Myself, My testimony is not true.

The witness of John

 32.  "There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony
which He gives about Me is true.

33.  "You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.

 34.  "But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these
things so that you may be saved.

 35.  "He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing
to rejoice for a while in his light.

Witness of Works

 36.  "But the testimony which I have is greater than {the testimony of}
John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish--the very
works that I do--testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

Witness of the Father

 37.  "And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither
heard His voice at any time nor seen His form.

 38.  "You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him
whom He sent.

Witness of the Scripture

39.  "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have
eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;

 40.  and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

 

Let's separate out Jesus' own list of witnesses.

The witness of Jesus Himself. (Not enough)

The witness of John, The herald of Messiah.

The witness of the miraculous.

The witness of the Father (some of them saw/heard the heavens open up.)

 The witness of the scriptures (Old Testament).. 

 

After the resurrection..

Each of men responsible for writing the Bible would also be added to this
list. 

The Jews that hated Jesus would be also (even though they were unwilling
witnesses.)  

 

Note the wisdom of God displayed here.

  People can be duped by any one of the witnesses of the list.  Even
miracles can sometimes be faked.  Not all of these things can be faked at
once.  That is Jesus' point. 

 

Consider Jesus' comment in His High priestly prayer (just prior to the
Gethsemane prayer).  

 

John 17: 12.  "While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which
You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the
son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled."

 

"Not one has been lost.."

This is the standard set by Jesus Himself.  

The witnesses of the Bible virtually all willingly died violent deaths
rather than recant their testimony.   

Can the Mormons (or any other of the "wanna be" religions) truly match the
Bible's standard?  

They like to claim to be on a par with the Bible. 

 Is it true? 

Well, let's use Mormonism as a comparison to Christianity.  Smith was well
aware of the extraordinary requirements placed by scripture in this regard.
He tried to falsely reproduce them.  For example in the front of every Book
of Mormon (hereafter referred to as BOM) you will find two groups of the
witnesses the Mormons presented to the world.  

 

A total of eleven men are presented.. Below is a scan from my 1908 copy of
the BOM.  

 

What's my point? 

Virtually all of these guys that swore they had seen angels, golden plates
etc and swore to the world that this weird story was true. either fell away
from the church or were thrown out by the church and had to run for their
lives!  

For example, on April 12, 1838 the church excommunicated Oliver Cowdery, all
the living Whitmers on the list, and Hiram Page (among others).  They became
known as "the dissenters."    On June 17, 1838    Sidney Rigdon preached a
sermon that among other things included the admonition, "that it was the
duty of the faithful to cast the dissenters out "to be trodden beneath the
feet of men!"  These folks ran for their lives.  

 

(In case you are not already aware of why they ran.. the Mormons had a
violent underground enforcement group known as the Danites.)

 

Martin Harris later admitted repeatedly and publicly. That he wasn't there
when an angel supposedly came down and showed the other two the golden
plates (the "signed" claim of the first three witnesses).  Harris said that
he only saw them "spiritually."

 

If the BOM really came from God...

Then why did virtually every one of the BOM witnesses fail the test?

 

Hyrum Smith died in a gun fight beside Joseph Smith in the Carthage jail in
1844.  This is very different from the Christians that were connected in
some way with the Bible. 

 

These two Mormon founders were not "willing" martyrs!

They are more like John Wayne. than Jesus!!! 

Sometimes Mormons try to claim both Smiths were martyrs like the writers of
the Bible.  It is true that they were killed in a gun fight, but they were
trying desperately to fight their way out and escape. 

Here is a Mormon account of such, "Brother Joseph as he drew nigh to Hyrum,
and, leaning over him, exclaimed, 'Oh! my poor, dear brother Hyrum!' He,
however, instantly arose, and with a firm, quick step, and a determined
expression of countenance, approached the door, and pulling the six-shooter
left by Brother Wheelock from his pocket, opened the door slightly, and
snapped the pistol six successive times; only three of the barrels, however,
were discharged. I afterwards understood that two or three were wounded by
these discharges, two of whom, I am informed died." (History of the Church,
Vol. 7, p. 100, 102 & 103)"

 

 This is very different from those connected with the New Testament. The
Mormons were rather proud that Smith killed two people before they got him! 

 

See how many of the familiar names you recognize below.

Would you like to know what happened to the Christians that wrote (or were
connected with) the Bible?

 

Let's take them one by one.

 

James, the son of Zebedee, brother of John: First of the apostles to die
(A.D.44; see Ac. 12:2).           

Andrew, brother of Peter:  After the apostles left Jerusalem he labored in
the town of Edessa, Greece.  He made the mistake of converting  the
governor's wife, who then converted the governor's brother.   Aepeas, the
governor was outraged by the whole affair and ordered him crucified.  He was
crucified on an x shaped cross, a "Saint Andrew's Cross." 

  Phillip of Bethsaida: Died at Hieropolis, Phrygia (A. D. 54). Scourged,
imprisoned then crucified.

Thomas (AKA Didymus): Thomas has been remembered by the world as doubting
Thomas.  That is a shame, he was an intelligent man whose doubts must be
resolved before he would follow.  Those doubts were resolved.  See John
20:24-29.  He died near Madras, India.  They ran him through with a spear.

If the Bible were not what it claims to be.

Why do you suppose none of these men ran? They all "willingly" laid down
their lives so that you would respect the Bible?

Men don't do this for money.

 

Nathaniel, (AKA Bartholomew):   Do you recall Nathaniel?  "Jesus saw
Nathaniel coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in
whom is no guile!"  John 1:47   I picture a kind, decent man without a mean
bone in his body.  In India, they tried to make him deny Jesus by skinning
him alive.  They failed, so they beheaded him.   

Matthew (Levi): Labored in Parthia and Ethiopia. Killed with a halberd in
the city of Nadabah 60 AD

James, son of Alphaeus ("The Less"), and James the Lord's brother: These two
men are often confused in history.  Their life and death stories are
hopelessly intertwined. Eusebius, Josephus and Jerome record that one of
them killed by the priests (A. D.64/66). One of them was thrown from the
pinnacle of the temple.  The other seems to have been beaten or stoned to
death at the hands of the priests as well.  

Simon Zealotes: Preached in Mauritania, Africa, then in Britain. Crucified
there (A. D. 74).

Judas, brother of James (Lebbeaus, Thaddeus); Crucified at Edessa (A. D.
72).

 

"For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His
majesty."     II Peter 1:16

 

Simon Peter: Crucified by Nero. He requested to be crucified upside down,
since he wasn't worthy to die the same way as his Lord. The request was
granted.

This seventeenth century painting (Domine quo vadis) is a depiction of the
tradition that arose surrounding Jesus' appearing to Peter to encourage
before he was crucified.    This ancient account of Peter's death is
preserved is various accounts.  The acts of Peter, the martyrdom of Peter
etc.  

Image:Domine, quo vadis?.jpg"And as he went forth of the city, he saw the
Lord entering into Rome. And when he saw him, he said: Lord, whither goest
thou thus (or here)? And the Lord said unto him: I go into Rome to be
crucified. And Peter said unto him: Lord, art thou (being) crucified again?
He said unto him: Yea, Peter, I am (being) crucified again. And Peter came
to himself: and having beheld the Lord ascending up into heaven, he returned
to Rome, rejoicing, and glorifying the Lord, for that he said: I am being
crucified: the which was about to befall Peter. 

XXXVI. He went up therefore again unto the brethren, and told them that
which had been seen by him: and they lamented in soul, weeping and saying:
We beseech thee, Peter, take thought for us that are young. And Peter said
unto them: If it be the Lord's will, it cometh to pass, even if we will it
not; but for you, the Lord is able to stablish you in his faith, and will
found you therein and make you spread abroad, whom he himself hath planted,
that ye also may plant others through him. But I, so long as the Lord will
that I be in the flesh, resist not; and again if he take me to him I rejoice
and am glad. 

And while Peter thus spake, and all the brethren wept, behold four soldiers
took him and led him unto Agrippa. And he in his madness (disease) commanded
him to be crucified on an accusation of godlessness."

 

Note: The non Biblical accounts are always a little suspect to me, but they
contain details that can be cross referenced with others.  One thing is
clear. Peter was crucified confessing Jesus. 

 If he had denied Jesus at the last, it would have been made known to the
entire world! 

 

Matthias (replaced Judas): Stoned and beheaded at Jerusalem.

 

For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity,
but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. 

 II Corinthians 2:17

 

 Timothy:      Eventually became an elder at Ephesus in AD 65.  At the age
of 80, in AD 97 he tried to stop a pagan procession that appears to have
been very similar to the Mardi Gras of New Orleans.  They beat him, dragged
him through the streets then stoned him. 

Note the compliment Paul paid Timothy, "But continue thou in the things
which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
learned them."  II Timothy 3:4   How many people do you know that have no
clue were their beliefs came from?  Or why they believe a certain way?
Timothy knew why.  He knew Jesus was the son of God.  He also knew men who
had seen and spoke with Him.  

John Mark: He is credited with founding the church at Alexandria.  The
pagans didn't appreciate it. (Money!)  If you make a living carving idols,
Christianity is bad for business.  They drug him through the streets on
Easter day.  They weren't sure how the governor would react.  When he did
nothing.. The next day they tied the rope around his neck and drug him to
death. 

John, son of Zebedee, brother of James: The only one of the twelve to escape
a martyr's death (see John. 21:18-23). While he escaped, it wasn't because
he was unwilling.  Domitian ordered him to be thrown into a pot of boiling
oil. he didn't die.  So, he was banished to the mines in the isle of Patmos.
This story intersects with scripture. "I John, who also am your brother, and
companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ."  Revelation 1:9

"But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter
words of sober truth. "For the king knows about these matters, and I speak
to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things
escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner."   Acts 26:25-26

The Apostle Paul: He was beheaded in Rome by Nero.  Traditionally he and
Peter died on the same day.  Peter being crucified,  but Paul a Roman
citizen was entitled to beheading.  It seems a little strange to say
"entitled" to be beheaded, doesn't it? But,  compared to crucifixion
beheading doesn't sound so bad!  Paul was one of the "lucky" ones.  

 

Here's the bottom line.  One after another of these men went willingly to
their deaths swearing that Jesus had risen from the dead.  They didn't run.
If any of them had. The Jews and the Romans would have seen to it that we
would have known about it.  We know very well about all the Mormon false
witnesses running.  

 

Only one reasonable explanation comes to mind.

They really did see and speak with the risen Savior.  One after another of
these men wouldn't just go to their deaths without even a whimper! 

 

 Paul explains, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and
the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up
for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will
award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved
His appearing."  II Timothy 4:6-8

 

They had plenty of time to think about it.  It wasn't a fluke, it was an
honor.

This list is based primarily on Fox's "Book of Martyrs," and almost
certainly is in error on some details. But in the hostile environment in
which these men lived, if they had cowered and ran, we would have known
about it. They remained all faithful until death. Let's consider Paul's
explanation: 

"I believed and therefore have I spoken" (2 Corinthians 4:13)

 

 

Yours in Christ 

Jerry Blount

Minister for 

Pleasant Valley church of Christ

3317 Amidon rd. 

Wichita Kansas, 67204

3163204321

WWW.letJesusleadus.org

 

 

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From GLClair at aol.com  Wed Dec  5 20:18:18 2007
From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com)
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 21:18:18 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] Article - Establishing Truth Today
Message-ID: <c4c.247c8385.3488b5ea@aol.com>

 
ESTABLISHING TRUTH  TODAY 
Government's Duty to its  Citizens 
[The TRUTH is still  the TRUTH regardless of man?s actions] 
The question is one that  many people ask often ? ?of themselves? This 
method of deciding whether  to comply with God?s instruction or not is not very 
reliable. You see, most of  us are creatures of our upbringing, environment, and 
other circumstances that  have given us the intellectual knowledge that we 
possess. It should not be a  shock therefore when we find great difficulty in 
encouraging and/or establishing  Biblical truth with others people. Many times 
our prospect has been so  conditioned by his/her circumstances in life that 
interesting them in Biblical  facts is immaterial and disinteresting to the  
person. 
The problems that many  churches are experiencing today with reaching the 
lost ones with the gospel  [i.e. God?s Truth] is due to social as well as 
calculated designs by wicked  people to delete God and all things religious from our 
lives. Some of the facts  of this calculated plan to eliminate God from man?s 
ability to know Him or hear  of Him is found in the actions of man with regard 
to removing any mention or  references to God from the educational systems 
that the government controls.  This is an attempt by evil persons with consent 
from the government to erase God  and keep students in the dark about Him.  
God speaks to governments  regarding their duty to God and to man in this 
matter in such passages of  Scripture as Romans 13:1-6, ?1 Let every  soul be in 
subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God;  and the 
(powers) that be are ordained of God. 2 Therefore he that resisteth the  power, 
withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive  to 
themselves judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to  
the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? Do that which is good,  
and thou shall have praise from the same: 4 for he is a minister of God to thee 
 for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not 
the  sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him 
that  doeth evil. 5 Wherefore (ye) must needs be in subjection, not only because 
of  the wrath, but also for conscience' sake.  6 for this cause ye pay 
tribute also; for they are ministers of God's  service, attending continually upon 
this very thing.? ASV   
CONSIDER  THIS: 
One can see from this reading in Romans, God is to be honored by the  
righteous action of good leaders and good government. Whenever governments fail  to 
give God glory and recognize their place in the earth, that government is  
headed toward oblivion. If one simply heeds the facts of History one will see  
that God may use a government for His purposes but and when that government  
fails to acknowledge HIM or makes its citizens fear, that government is indeed  
headed to destruction.                 NOTICE  THIS GREAT EMPIRE?S DEMISE ---  
Daniel 5:25-31, ?25 and this is the writing that was  inscribed: MENE, MENE, 
TEKEL,  
UPHARSIN. 26 This is the  interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath 
numbered thy kingdom, and brought it  to an end; 27 TEKEL; thou art weighed in the 
balances, and art found wanting. 28  PERES; thy kingdom is divided, and given to 
the Medes and Persians. 29 Then  commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed 
Daniel with purple, and put a chain of  gold about his neck, and made proclamation 
concerning him, that he should be the  third ruler in the kingdom. 30 In that 
night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was  slain. 31 And Darius the Mede received 
the kingdom, being about threescore and  two years old.? ASV 
The  governmental authorities of city, county, state, and federal government 
ought to  read the Bible so that they will know what God expects of them. Only 
when men  return to listening to God via His Written Word [i.e. the Bible} 
will they heed  the Lord?s will. Perhaps it will be too late for many people 
because God may  decide that He has had enough of man?s rejection and give man 
over to his own  devices as HE did according to Romans 1:18-32;  ?Maybe, He 
already Has!?    --- _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) 



**************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest 
products.
(http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)
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From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com  Thu Dec  6 02:55:33 2007
From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com)
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 03:55:33 EST
Subject: [Biblemat] S) ANCIENT PROPHETS IN A MODERN WORLD  (2)
Message-ID: <c01.26b08cb8.34891305@wmconnect.com>

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is the second part
of this particular study.  Use to the glory of God.

ANCIENT PROPHETS IN A MODERN WORLD  (2)

God And Babylon: -- Babylon of the Chaldees was the city
and nation used of Jehovah to overthrow the Assyrians.  Und-er the rule of 
Nabopolasser (626-604), the Chaldeans over-
threw the rule of Assyria, and destroyed Nineveh in 607 or
606.  This monarch was followed by his illustrious son, Nebuc-
hadnezzar (604-562).  Some time before 600, Habakkuk came
to Jehovah with the question of wickedness and iniquity in 
Judah, declaring that "destruction and violence are before me
and there is strife, and contention riseth up.  Therefore the 
law is slacked, and justice doth compass about the righteous;
therefore justice goeth forth perverted" (Hab. 1:3,4).  To this
God made reply by pointing to the rising Chaldean nation as the instrument in 
His hand by which He would punish the 
wickedness of Judah.  "Behold ye among the nations, and
look, and wonder marvelously; for I am working a work in your days, which ye 
will not believe though it be told you.  For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, 
that bitter and hasty nation,
that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwel-
ling places that are not theirs" (Hab. 1:5,6).  It was Jehovah
working the work; it was Jehovah raising up the Chaldeans to
do the work.  This would raise the question again, If God rais-
es up and uses a nation for such a work is that nation guilty
of what it has done?  At this point God leaves no doubt: "Then shall he sweep 
by as a wind, and shall pass over, and 
be guilty, even he whose might is his god" (vs. 11).

     This reply of Jehovah left the prophet more perplexed than before.  
Would Jehovah, the God of righteousness, use
a man and nation like the Babylonian king and his people for
a work upon Judah? (vss. 12-17).  Then God makes clear what shall be the 
ultimate end of such a character as the Chal-
dean king.  This is declared in chapter two, where God pro-
nounces five woes upon such a one:

     "Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his!...
Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the remnant
of the peoples shall plunder thee, because of men's blood,
and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all 
that dwell therein" (2:6,8).  "Woe to him that getteth an evil
gain for his house, that he may be delivered from the hand of
evil!" (vs. 9).  "Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, 
and establisheth a city by iniquity!"  Such labor only for the
fire of destruction (vs. 12).  "Woe to him that giveth his neigh-
bor drink, to thee that addest thy venom, and makest him
drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!"  (vs. 15); as he had 
meted to others so shall it be meted to him
(vss. 16,17).  Then finally, Woe unto the idolater, the one who
trusts in the teacher of lies!  (vss. 18,19).

     The Chaldean was the special object of these woes, yet as
God pronounces them to the prophet, He speaks generally of
a character -- any character -- who may follow such a course
of action.  In this chapter God is laying down principles; the 
woes declare the end of all such as follow a like pattern.  The
end of such men is determined by Jehovah:  "But Jehovah is
in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him"
(vs. 20).

     The Chaldeans came, and in 587 and 586 Judah was carri-
ed away into Babylonian captivity.  Among those carried away
was a lad of the royal seed, named Daniel.  The story of his
life and rise to prominence at the court of Nebuchadnezzar is
familiar to all, but one of the special lessons of the book is
often overlooked.  While encouraging the children of the cap-
tivity, assuring them that God would so overrule as to estab-lish His kingdom 
at the appointed time, he also taught the 
heathen king that He -- Jehovah -- rules in the kingdoms of
men.

     When Nebuchadnezzar had his dream, which none of his
soothsayers or magicians could interpret or declare, God re-
vealed it to Daniel.  Upon receiving the revelation in a vision
of the night, Daniel praised God, saying, "And he changeth
the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth
up kings" (Dan. 2:21).  Later, in interpreting another dream
for the king, Daniel declared to him, "The sentence is by the
decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the
holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth 
in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over 
it the lowest of men"
(Dan. 4:17).  The dream was fulfilled; Nebuchadnezzar was 
driven from the presence of men and ate grass as the oxen
till the "seven times" had passed over him.  Years later, when
Nabonidas was king, and his son, Belshazzar was ruling in
Babylon in the absence of his father, Daniel was called upon
to interpret the writing on the wall.  In interpreting the writing,
Daniel related the matter of Nebuchadnezzar's greatness and
pride, and of his having been driven from the presence of men and eating 
grass as the oxen, with the conclusion, "until
he knew that the Most High God ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that he 
setteth up over it whomsoever he will" (5:21).  This is one of the important 
points of the book.  The
question becomes, Does God rule in the kingdoms of men
today and set up rulers as He did then?

     When the time came for Babylon to be overthrown, having
served Jehovah's purpose, God said, "Make sharp the arrows
hold firm the shields: Jehovah hath stirred up the spirit of the
kings of the Medes; because his purpose is against Babylon,
to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of Jehovah, the vengean-
ce of his temple" (Jer. 51:11).  Of Cyrus, whom God raised to
do this work, He had said by Isaiah, nearly two hundred years
earlier, "Thus saith Jehovah to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose
right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I
will loose the loins of Kings and the gates shall not be shut...
I will gird thee, though thou hast not known me" (Isa. 45:1,5).
The foretelling of this so long before was to the end that when fulfilled, 
men might know that it had been spoken by
Jehovah, and that  besides him there is no God.  (More will be
posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS).   </HTML>
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